Gutierrez, Walter 



Experiences in the Captive Management of Hawksbill Turtles 

 (Eretmochelvs imbricata) at Isla Uvita, 

 Puerto Limon. Costa Rica 



Junta Adininistracion Portuaria y Desarrollo Vertiente Atlantica 



Limon, Costa Rica 



Location: Isla Uvita, Limon, Costa Rica 



Area: Six hectares 



Average Annual Precipitation: 3,567 mm 



Average Annual Temperature: 24.5°C 



The island is accessible only by boat and is 5 minutes from 



the national pier. 



The program was initiated with 143 turtles hatched at Isla 

 Uvita under natural conditions; they were maintained in two 21 

 cubic meter cement tanks, each one housing 60 turtles (3 

 turtles/cubic meter) . 



Twice daily the water in the tanks is changed to flush out 

 feces and food residues; once each eight days the pools are 

 disinfected with chlorine and soap to eliminate pathogens. 



The food consists of Tilapia. and it is provided twice 

 daily. The Tilapia is entire and unprocessed; this fish is 

 raised at the Estacion Piscicola, owned by JAPDEVA on the 

 outskirts of the city of Limon. 



The ambient air temperature is measured twice daily as is 

 the sea temperature, once in the morning and once in the 

 afternoon. 



Regarding diseases, no drastic effects have been reported, 

 but injuries as a result of aggression between turtles over food 

 have occurred. Nevertheless, these circumstances have not 

 produced mortality in the population. The decrease in 

 individuals has resulted from the removal of the specimens from 

 the pools during the night. 



Results 



Table 1 presents the most pertinent aspects of the activity 

 such as weight, length (growth) and feeding of the turtles during 

 the first year in captivity. 



Discussion or Comment 



This annual study has permitted us to gain experience in the 

 management of animals in captivity, and it has opened the field 



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